Seminarian Education Dinner organizers present check for $115K

After the ordination of five new priests for the Diocese of Nashville on Friday, June 12, representatives from the Serra Clubs of Williamson County and Nashville and the Tennessee Knights of Columbus presented a check for $115,000 to Bishop David Choby to help fund the education of the diocese’s seminarians. The money was raised at the sixth annual Seminarian Education Dinner and Auction, held May 20 at Holy Family Church in Brentwood. On hand to present the money to Bishop Choby, the new priests and the seminarians were: (from left) Cory McCormick, Louise Volpe, Lloyd Crockett, Jerry and Trisha Strebel, Betty Jo Allen, Missy and Bob Rudman, incoming state deputy of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus Steve Comm, Diocesan Director of Grants and Annual Giving Sandra Jordan, Gerard Killmeyer and Diocesan Chief Financial Officer Bill Whalen. Photo by Rick Musacchio

On the day that the Diocese of Nashville ordained five new priests, the Serra Clubs of Williamson County and Nashville and the Tennessee Knights of Columbus formally presented to Bishop David Choby a check for $115,000 that will be used to pay for the education of the seminarians still working toward their own ordination.

The presentation was made immediately after the ordination of Fathers Andy Bulso, Ben Butler, Emmanuel Dirichukwu, Austin Gilstrap and Eric Johansen on the altar of the Cathedral of the Incarnation. Joining the bishop and new priests in accepting the donation were nearly 20 of the diocese’s seminarians.

Presenting the money to the bishop, surrounded by the new priests and seminarians “was a good way to hand off the money,” said Bob Rudman, who chaired the Seminarian Education Dinner and Auction, where the $115,000 was raised. “It aids in the education of all these men.”

The dinner and auction, in its sixth year, was held May 20 at Holy Family Church in Brentwood. The dinner, live and silent auctions drew more than 560 people, its largest crowd ever, and at $115,000 the event set a new record for the amount of money raised.

The goal for the event was to raise $125,000. Although the event hasn’t reached that amount yet, people can still make a donation, Rudman said.

Those interested in making a donation can mail a check to: Serra Club of Williamson County, c/o St. Philip Church, 113 Second Ave. S., Franklin, TN 37064. Donors should make the check payable to the Serra Club of Williamson County with a notation the money is for the Seminarian Education Fund.

The dinner was co-sponsored by the Serra Clubs and the Knights of Columbus. The Serra Club, an international organization, was founded to support and encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life. And the Knights of Columbus, also an international organization, has several programs to promote vocations and support seminarians and priests.